Step-ladder chair



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D'. R. KNIGHT. Step Ladder Chair.

No. 241,548. Patent-ed May 17. I881.

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v Step Ladder Chair. No. 241,543. Patented'May 17, 188i.

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/r A A, &c., are parts easily converted into a step-ladder and again UNITED STATES DANIEL R. KNIGHT, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

STEP-LADDER CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,548, dated May 17, 18811.

Application filed January 31, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, DANIEL R. KNIGI1r,of' Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have iiwented certain new and useful Improvements in Chair and StepLadder Combined; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, whereby a person skilled in the art can make and use the same, reference bein g had tothe accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Like letters in the figures indicate the same parts. a

Myinvention relates to a mechanism by which a hall or library chair can be readily and folded into the form of a chair, according to the purpose for which it is desired to be used.

The object of myimprovement is to provide a concealed step-ladder in the form of a hall or library chair which can be ready for use, when required, without the inconvenience of bringing a ladder from elsewhere, and to effect this in a better manner than has heretofore been done. 1

1n the accompanying drawings, on two sheets, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of my improved chair and step-ladder combined, folded up in the form of a chair. Fig. 2 shows a rear perspective view of the same unfolded in the form of a step-ladder.

of the fixed frame of the chair.

B is the seat. This is made removable and rests on bearings in the frame.

C C are slats forming the back of the chair when turned down as shown in Fig. 1, and forming the steps of the ladder when turned over in the position shown in Fig. 2. The top step is shown only partially turned over, so as to illustrate its mode of operation.

D D are' the rear supports of the step-ladder when spread out, as shown in Fig. 2, and which fold up against the fixed frame of the chair and form the rear legs, as shown in Fig. 1. These legs are jointed to the frame at the top by means of a hook or hinge of any ordinary construction, which is concealed by the cap E.

F F are braces for holding the legs D in position. or guides G upon the part of the frame A under the seat of the chair. They are moved out or in by the following mechanism: The block H slidesfrom front to rear by means of a hearing in the slot J, or other suita-bleguides. At its sides are two inclined slots, K, in which pins or projectionsnpon the braces F slide in such amann'er that as the block is pushed back or forward the braces F are pushed out or in. The block H is furnished with a spring-latch, L, which hooks over the stop M when the block is drawn forward, and over thestop M when it is pushed back so as to throw out the legs D.

N is a knob or handle for operating the block H.

0 O are bars hinged to the fixed frame by their top ends, the hinges being conoealed'under the caps E. The slats O are pivoted to these bars at their ends, so that theyhang downward from their top edges in the position shown in Fig. 1. These pivots form the hinges upon which the slats turn over to form the steps of the ladder, as shown in Fig. 2. The bars 0 are also furnished with the stop-pins P, against which the slats 0 rest when they form the back of the chair. The bars 0 are held firmly in position by the seat B, so that they cannot swing forward when the seat is in, but when it is removed they can be swung forward and caught by the springs It, as shown in Fig. 2. Attached to these bars 0 and to the fixed frame is a parallel-bar arrangement for supporting the rear edge of the slats C when they are turned over so as to form the steps. p

S S are thin metallic straps, which han g from their upper ends and carry the supports for the rear edges of the steps C. The upper ends move up and down in slots S by means of headed pins acting under a plate attached to the frame. The straps S are guided into position by the radial bars T, which are hinged to S and to the lower part of the fixed back post of the frame. The link U is also hinged to S, and moves at its other end in a slot in the fixed frame by means of a pin or bolt acting by means of its head sliding under the plate U attached to the frame. serves to support the strap S.

V V are links between t-helower ends of the They move lengthwise between the pins This link IOO straps S and the lower ends of the bars 0. They are hinged to the straps S and move in slots in the bars 0 by means of'bolts or pins having heads under plates V, as has been de' scribed for the parts S and U. The object of the links V is to pull forward and push back the lower ends of the straps S when the bars 0 are moved, so that the parts shall act together. The slots V are required to prevent a binding of the parts when they are moved.

The straps S are furnished with rests W W, &c., for the rear of the steps 0. The rest W for the upper step is attached to the upper part of the leg D. These rests W and W are made with a projection upward, (shown at W in Fig. 2,) which enters recesses W in the steps and locks them, so as to hold the supports of the steps from spreading. The lower ends of the straps S are also held from spreading by entering into slotsYin theframe when moved outward and downward, as in Fig. 2, from which they are lifted out when the stepladder is closed up, so that they can move back against the upright posts.

It .will be observed, from the foregoing description, that the series of steps are hung from the top of the frame formed by the fixed frame of the chair resting on the forward legs, and the rear legs,D. The chair-frame is made sufliciently strong by means of the arms and any other bracing that may be required, any ordinary construction being sufficiently strong for general use.

The operation of my improvement is as follows: Suppose the whole to be closed up to form a chair, as shown in Fig. l. WVhen it is desired to form a step-ladder, the seat B is removed, the block H is then pushed back, which throws out and spreads the legs 1). The bars 0 are then drawn forward, which draws out the frame S T U V, the upper end of S sliding downward in the slot S. The slats O are then turned over, so as to form the steps of the ladder. To form the chair again the reverse of these operations takes place. The steps are turned over forward, the springs R are released, the bars 0 are pushed back, the block H is unlatched and drawn forward, and the seat is replaced.

What 1 claim as my invention is 1. The combination of the legs D, the sliding braces F, and the sliding block H, provided with the latch L, with the fixed frame A of the chair, substantially as described.

'2. The combination of the swinging suspended bars 0, the spring-latches R, the'parallel straps S, and the rotating steps (3, with the fixed frame A of the chair, substantially as described.

3. Theoombination of the bars S T U V, the bar 0, having the slot V, and the frame A, having the slots S and U, as a parallel motion device for the bars S and O, substantially as described.

4. In a chair and step-ladder combined, the rotating steps 0, in combination with the bars 0, having stops P and bars S, having suitable supports for the rear edges of the steps, for forming the back of the chair and steps to the ladder, substantially as described.

DANIEL R. KNIGHT.

Witnesses:

Trrno. G. ELLIs, WILMoT HORTON. 

